That's pretty much why I was asking. I think that trying to add 3 guys in that range pretty much precludes you from anything else. I've always been of the mind that 2 is the likely number and have advocated that one of those guys come via trade if possible. If they are able to outbid other suitors for Yamamota that likely takes all of $30M per, maybe more. If it's more, all of a sudden the cost of everyone else gets bumped in either $$$, years or both.
The bottom line on this post is mostly right - they have $70m to $80m to spend - but that $160m doesn't include likely arbitration awards & pre-arb minimums, & the applicable tax threshold for this year should be the $277m # not the $237m one.
Two but then a third could come in a creative deal for a rehabbing arm, like Tyler Mahle or Frankie Montas.
Agree. Snell is like 2019 Brandon Workman but as a starter. I'm not interested.
I like Wikelman a lot too, but I don't think the bolded is quite true, sadly. If anything, the walks were better in 2022. However you want to slice them, he's still walking north of 5 per 9 innings. On the other hand, a K rate of 15/9 is so insane it would be impossible not to be excited.
Wikleman is also very small. Probably more like 5'10 than 6 feet and those guys just don't really exist as starting pitchers. As a reference, Bello is significantly bigger than him.
Without doubt and that's fine, but that's a different discussion. Any of these types are likely going to have to be a MiL signing as it's going to be tough to find an open spot on the 40 man given the current makeup.
Here's an interesting question: if we get a third starter, do we want a rehabbing guy with big upside who likely hits an innings limit, or a Gibson/Mikolas type who's below average but gives us ~190 IP?
I apologize.... for some reason I was really thinking his BB rate significantly decreased this past season. I don't have the time right now to check game logs... perhaps it was over the year (starting high and reducing it slowly towards the end of the season?).
Not sure if you have inside information or something, but he's listed at 6' everywhere (compared to Bello at 6'1). & even if he was 5'10, there are plenty of guys like that who "exist as starting pitchers".
Snell might be the pitcher most helped by his home stadium + defense behind him in the entire league. A .256 BABIP is ludicrous, and has him at 5th in the league among SP. His HR rate is half what it was in Tampa.
Not sure how Crawford fits in here. If that was the '23 Red Sox rotation they would have made the playoffs. It would certainly make them contenders in '24.
They should probably update their own stuff where they list him at 6' then (not that it's the only place where it's listed that way). Why would Wikelman's height be listed wrong everywhere, though, & other shorter pitchers all have their exact correct heights listed?
Also, Wikelman is more "thicc" than "slight".
Historically there’s just no reason that we would run a $230m payroll because that would equate to a #6 or #7 team next year. That’s the basis for saying that we’ll be aggressive this offseason. I agree with JM3 that for next year at least, the upper limit is $270m. That allows for extensions for Casas and Bello, and three starting pitchers. One long term deal for Snell/Yamamoto and two shorter deals (2-3 years) for ERod/Gray types.
Why would ERod opt out of the final 3 years of his current contract to sign a new 2-3 year deal?
Possibly. Tbough off the top of my head, DDski did in fact let Scherzer go (Det to Wash) and let Price go (well, traded him to Toronto, like a week before he was fired).
My guess is that the word "announced" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. I would think whatever Cora said was in response to being asked the question. That said giving such an answer seems a bit defiant (not sure if that is the best word to use) considering the uncertainty of the organization and the pitching staff moving into the '24 season.
Clicks... Sale would be the starter if we dont make any SP moves.... But thankfully the offseason has not even started yet
It's not for clicks. It's Cora showing confidence in Sale, but we all know he won't be the OD starter unless they strike out at every turn this offseason.
"I'm coming back, and these sort of calls are mine to make."
If only he didn't stink so badly early in the season that he pitched his way out of our not-very-good rotation. If he's your most valuable pitcher, you know you've got problems.
Wasn’t arguing otherwise…. But he still needs to be considered as a starter next year. Hopefully as a no.5/6 with Sale including two new starters, Bello and one of Houck/Crawford. He provides almost a guaranteed full year of health which nobody else can.
By which measure?
Most valuable might be a stretch, but he's finishing with a lot of comparable numbers to the one guy everyone agrees is a lock for the 2024 rotation.
He had the second most innings, most strikeouts, second lowest WHIP after Chris Martin, and lowest ERA of the starters. He was probably the second best pitcher on the team behind Martin and threw 90 more innings.
